The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected left fifth metacarpal fracture is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in the previous examination.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not fully comply with the requirements set forth by Correia and Sharp, which require joint testing for active and passive motion in both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing circumstances, including during flare-ups.
- Claimed conditions
- left fifth metacarpal fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 5, 2019
- Citation
- A19003359
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,549 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A19003359.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional examinations and evaluations to address discrepancies in findings related to the Veteran's left fifth finger disability, including arthritis. The issues of service connection for the left hand and wrist arthritis are also being remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration of all submitted evidence, including VA treatment records. The AOJ should also consider whether the Veteran is entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination by an orthopedist to address the issues of service connection for arthritis of the left hand and wrist and increased rating for residuals of a fracture to the left fifth metacarpal.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his left fifth finger disability is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination and consideration of updated treatment records.
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